Who has the most powerful military?

[tom the pit leader]

I think what your missing, Dan, is that what the west thinks of as independent states are considered by many Chinese currently and have historically considered to be part of China, such as Tibet, and parts of Korea, Taiwan, and other nearby areas.

China is OLD. Almost as old as Egypt, but not quite. China has changed over time, but several thousand years of history tell a much more compelling story than a few decades when it comes to Foreign policy. If China had wanted to conquer most if not all of Asia, they could have done it, they've had the time and resources. They haven't taken it because they don't want it, unlike the West, that doesn't own things because it can't have them, not because it doesn't want them.

[Zyvexal]

Originally Posted by tom the pit leader

I think what your missing, Dan, is that what the west thinks of as independent states are considered by many Chinese currently and have historically considered to be part of China, such as Tibet, and parts of Korea, Taiwan, and other nearby areas.

China is OLD. Almost as old as Egypt, but not quite. China has changed over time, but several thousand years of history tell a much more compelling story than a few decades when it comes to Foreign policy. If China had wanted to conquer most if not all of Asia, they could have done it, they've had the time and resources. They haven't taken it because they don't want it, unlike the West, that doesn't own things because it can't have them, not because it doesn't want them.

precisely.

I cannot begin to tell you how accurate that statement is.

You, sir, have just hit 3 triple 20's.

[DanDesade]

Originally Posted by Zyvexal

precisely.

I cannot begin to tell you how accurate that statement is.

You, sir, have just hit 3 triple 20's.

except that tibet was a vassal, your probably thinking of manchuria, and taiwan is where all the communist chines fled after japan gave it to the ROC.

i do agree that traditionally china was isolasionist. I'm saying now theres been a marked change in their approach to world affairs

[Zyvexal]

Originally Posted by DanDesade

except that tibet was a vassal, your probably thinking of manchuria, and taiwan is where all the communist chines fled after japan gave it to the ROC.

wtf are you talking about mate.

we're talking history that extends way back, way older than what you're talking about.

[DanDesade]

Originally Posted by Zyvexal

wtf are you talking about mate.

we're talking history that extends way back, way older than what you're talking about.

stop dwelling on the past dammit. or you'll end up missing the point.

[IronsightSniper]

Uhh, Taiwan has been settled by some ethnic Chinese way back before the Nationals waltzed in. Japan, Korea, Vietnam and other places practically got the gist of their Culture from China. Historically, all Asians came from Mongolia, but they've been pretty much a part of the Chinese territories after Khan. So their Sphere of Influence has always been quite large, yes.

[Zyvexal]

Originally Posted by DanDesade

stop dwelling on the past dammit. or you'll end up missing the point.

keep ignoring the past, and you'll end up... DEAD.

[DanDesade]

okay, okay. i give up.

[Zyvexal]

for further information on Chinese Culture, see "Chinese Culture Thread" by Zyvexal, which is pinned in the Real World forums.

[tom the pit leader]

American's, much like myself, cannot conceptualize just how long other nations have been around. Our culture changes every generation or so, whereas other's have been almost unchanged for life ages of America. It's just different, and has to be taken into account.

The cultural memory of America is measured in years, while in other places the changes we've experienced in any given 50 year period would have taken multiple centuries.